UK Clinical Products Reference Source

HC Deb 19 September 2002 vol 390 cc352-3W

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to put out to tender the maintenance of the UK Clinical Products Reference Source. [67993]

Mr. Lammy

[holding answer 8 July 2002]: The UK Standard Clinical Products Reference Source will comprise four distinct elements. Of these, two are already in production: The SNOMED CT drug core, under the terms of the contract between the Department and the College of American Pathologists, and the primary care drug dictionary, on behalf of the Department by the prescription pricing authority.

The remaining two elements are the secondary care drug dictionary and the medical devices dictionary. I can confirm that the maintenance of both these dictionaries will be undertaken in accordance with public procurement European Union and Official Journal of the European Communities regulations and with the National Health Service information authority's procedures for the letting of contracts.